Multi-letter unit sign and molding apparatus therefor



July 5, 1966 L. C. OWNBEY MULTI-LETTER UNIT SIGN AND MOLDING APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LLOYD C- OWNBEY AT TO EN EV July 5, 1966 L. c. OWNBEY 3,253,869

MULTI-LETTER UNIT SIGN AND MOLDING APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

\J ATTORNEY July 5, 1966 c. ow B Y 3,258,869

MULTI-LETTER UNIT SIGN AND MOLDING APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 22, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 1 Zaifi LLOYD C. OWNBEY INVENTOR.

Vwm 3M United States Patent 3,258,869 MULTI-LETTER UNIT SIGN AND MOLDING APPARATUS THEREFOR Lloyd C. ()wnbey, 1961 S. Vermont, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,858 8 Claims. (Cl. 40-140) The invention relates to signs and the letters and characters which make up signs together with a system for making multi-letter signs and a means for displaying them. The invention here under consideration is more particularly directed to letters made up into complete words which can be applied as a word unit to a suitable mounting by simple, easy snap action and which can be readily removed and replaced by other word units when the sign is to be changed.

Very considerable attention has been given recently to illuminated signs for all manner of use such, for example, as markets, shopping centers, and all manner of businesses catering to the public taste, in addition to signs for motion picture theaters and places of entertainment which heretofore have been important users of changeable illuminated signs.

In most instances in the past, the approach has been to provide changeable letters for signs with some releasable attachment means by which letters can be applied one by one to an appropriate molding in order to spell out words and expressions as needed. Most signs of this type are large signs on illuminated backgrounds which stand relatively high above the ground where they are subject to wind and weather and where there is also the problem of getting up to the sign level by step ladder or scaffold when ever the sign needs to be changed. All sorts of hooks and fastening devices have been devised and also various kinds of moldings to accommodate the hooks and fastenings in an attempt to make interchange easy but at the same time to make the fastening secure. Those devices heretofore contrived are often difiicult to attach and remove on those occasions where they are secure against being dislodged when the wind blows or, on the other hand, if easy to attach and remove, are quite apt to be blown off the molding in a strong wind. Also, letter by letter mounting is time-consuming both to apply the sign and to remove it and is also time-consuming when there is taken into account the need for a proper spacing of the letters and words once they are hung upon the molding.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved multi-character unit sign which is quick and easy to mount and to dismount and which at the same time remains securely in place once it has been mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved multi-character unit sign wherein the spacing between letters and words and other characters is all established when the multi-character unit is assembled on the ground, thereby to dispense with any need for spacing when the unit is hung upon an appropriate fixture or support.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved attachment means for sign characters and especially multi-char-acter unit signs which makes use of a convenient, easy, friction fit which is especially secure, which prevents rattling, and which at the same time is very easy to remove.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved multi-character unit sign which can be set up in advance in virtually any length or in the alternative cutoff at virtually any location, thereby making the device one of considerable versatility, especially where many words or other sign character assemblies are to be used.

Also among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for the fabrication of a multic-haracter unit sign in which molds for the letters are easily shifted about in a suitable clamping frame while the unit sign is being assembled and wherein once properly in place and properly spaced, the molds can be securely clamped by simple and direct means and effectively held in position while the characters of the unit sign are molded from an appropriate sheet molding material, the invention also contemplating simultaneous molding of the characters and the hold-on device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved system for the molding of a multi-character unit sign which can be readily accomplished by simultaneously molding all of the characters and attachment means as a single unit and which after removal from the mold can be trimmed in one easy operation so that all assemblies are uniform and interchangeable when applied to an appropriate supporting molding.

Included further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved multi-character unit sign assembly wherein the supporting molding is of simple character capable of being constructed of commerically available extrusion strips which, when assembled into a fixture capable of illumination, provides automatic spacing of a multi-character unit sign upon the fixture, especially under circumstances where the unit sign must be properly located upon its background and also where structure of the fixture needs to be applied close to the molding which supports the multi-character unit, without at the same time impairing the ease of application and removal of the unit.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a finished multi-character unit sign employing letters in the form of a word by way of example.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the unit sign of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of a fragment of the unit sign of FIGURE 1 showing by way of example the formation of the letter T.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE. 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary top perspective view of an apparatus for forming the multi-letter unit sign.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectonal view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 and in addition showing the manner in which sheet material is applied to the apparatus.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view somewhat similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the sheet material after being drawn into place.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectonal view of a portion of the frame of a multi-letter unit sign taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view showing one form of illuminated mounting for a multi-letter unit sign.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing another form of mounting.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the 3 purpose of illustration sign characters spelling out the single word BEVELITE have been pictured in FIGURES 1 and 2. Additional words, spaced from the selected word, can be appropriately spelled out and molded in the same frame. The length of the frame is limited only by the need to have it no longer than would be easy to handle. In making up the unit sign, individual molds for the various characters are laid face up in a frame and properly spaced. When finished the letter molds and also the supporting frame itself form a composite mold over which a softened sheet of plastic material is placed and then pressed down around the letter molds and the frame by some appropriate conventional means, such as a vacuum, and permitted to cool and harden in place. After the molded material has been stripped from the mold, the rear face is trimmed off evenly and the result is a multi-letter unit sign similar to that pictured in FIGURE 1. The frame of the unit sign is in the form of a pocket, as pictured in FIGURE 12, and it is this frame which is made use of in fastening the unit sign to appropriate moldings like those shown in FIGURES 5 and 13, by way of example.

For the purpose of illustration reference is made to the letter T indicated by the reference character 10, consisting of a cross-bar 11 and a vertical leg 12. To improve the appearance of the letter T, and all other letters as well, the cross-bar 11 is beveled on opposite sides and ends as is also the vertical leg 12. The crossbar 11 has a transverse wall 13 across the top, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. On the lower sides of the crossbar are similar portions 14 and 15 of a transverse wall. Adjoining wall portions 15 and 17 provide ends for the cross-bar 11. The transverse wall 13 and wall portions 14, 15, 16 and 17 all slope slightly at an angle of about five degrees from the vertical, the slope being outwardly from the stroke of the center line of the letter, Whether the letter be straight or curved.

In a unit sign such, for example, as that pictured in FIGURES 1 and 2, the sundry letters are in a sense framed and are supported in positon by frame strips 18 and 19, respectively, at upper and lower edges of the letter. Upper edges of the letters, each in turn, are merged into the upper frame strip 18 as in the same fashion lower edges of the letters are merged into the lower frame strip 19. Sections of the frame strips intermediate the letters have the general form shown in FIGURE 12 which is a cross-section of the upper frame strip 18. As shown in FIGURE 12, the frame strip consists of opposite parallel plate elements 20 and 21, the plate elements being joined along adjacent rims 22 and 23 on one side by a rounded section 24 forming a closed pocket 25 of substantially uniform width throughout its length. Adjacent rims 26 and 27 at the opposite end remain spaced from each other, forming an opening 28 for the pocket. The pocket 25 is sloped slightly from the vertical by an angle of about five degrees, as has been previously indicated. The sections of the frame strip 18 at the upper edge between the successive letters all have substantially the same shape. The sections of the lower frame strip 19 have a corresponding shape except that the five degree angle from the vertical is in the opposite direction. Although in the chosen embodiment the five degree angular slope is outwardly from the horizontal center line of the unit sign, it will be understood that shoud occasion require and design permit, the slope might be in a contrary direction and that the angle might be something other than precisely five degrees.

For attaching the unit sign to an appropriate fixture or background, rails 30 and 31 may be employed, as shown by way of example in FIGURE 5, the rail 30 being construed as the upper rail and the rail 31 as the lower rail. As shown, the upper rail includes a mount ing flange 32 extending outwardly from a base 33 at substantially a ninety degree angle. The mounting flange 32 is spaced from a secondary flange 34 a distance capable of comfortably receiving the plate element 20 of the frame strip 18. Similarly, the rail 31 is provided with a mounting flange 35 extending outwardly from a base 36 and spaced from a secondary flange 37 a distance adapted to comfortably receive the plate element 21 of the frame strip 19.

It is important to note that the mounting flanges 32 and 35 are relatively flat strips parallel to each other and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the opening 28 of the frame strip 18 and opening 28 of the frame strip 19. The material from which the letters are made is relatively thin, resilient stock, preferably of an appropriate light textured synthetic plastic resinous material which can be molded. When the material is in relatively thin sections, such as are the plate elements 20 and 21, they yield to a degree when under pressure. Because of this, when a letter like the letter T, indicated by the reference character 10, is applied to the mounting flanges 32 and 35, the flanges enter the respective openings 28 and 28' bec e of being spaced the proper distance apart.

As the letter is pressed into position against the mounting flanges, the flanges are forced more deeply into the pockets like the pocket 25 of the frame strip 18. This causes opposite plate elements, like the plate elements 20 and 21 of the frame strip 18 and 20, 21 of the flange strip 19, to flex and create a frictional engagement of the frame strips with the mounting flanges. The plate elements continue to exert this flexing pressure against the mounting flanges and thereby hold the frame strips and all of the letters firmly in place upon the mounting flanges without prospect of rattling or of dislodgment by wind.

Since there is a section of the frame strip between each successive letter or character of the multi-letter unit sign, there are many areas of engagement of the frame strips with the mounting flanges both at the top and at the bottom. This makes for a very firm attachment of the entire unit sign in the desired position. Because of the spacing and the flexibility of the plate element, the entire unit sign is easily applied. When the times comes for removal, it can be very quickly and easily removed by lifting first one end or the other of the unit sign free of engagement with the mounting flanges and progressively removing the successive letters in quick succession with one snap action entirely clear of the mounting flanges. Removal in the manner suggested, namely, lifting the endmost letter clear and then successively releasing the other letters, requires only a slight pull in order to entirely free the entire unit which would be difiicult to remove if a pull were attempted against all letters at one time.

It will be understood further that even though pockets like the pocket 25 do not extend through each letter where it merges with the frame strips, there will in any event be some portion of the letter overlying the exterior of one or another of the frame strips as does the transverse wall 13 of the letter T and a similar transverse wall 13' at the bottom of the leg 12 of the letter T. These transverse walls are in fact continuations of the respective plate elements 20, 21' and also exert a degree of pressure upon the corresponding portions of the mounting flanges.

In order to initially form a unit sign like that described in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2 and related figures, the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 is made use of. The apparatus consists in part of a makeup plate 45 of any convenient length and breadth, capable of handling two or three pairs of positioning rails like the complementary respectively upper and lower positioning rails indicated generallyby the reference characters 46 and 47. The positioning rails can be virtually of any length limited as previously indicated by a length which will produce a unit sign which can be readily handled.

The upper positioning rail 46 consists of a base 48 and a forming strip 49 extending outwardly from the base 48. The base is relatively thick to help provide an adequate amount of rigidity and to permit fastening the rail to the make-up plate by means of screws 50. The lower positioning rail 47 is similarly formed with a base 51 and a forming strip 52. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the forming strips 49 and 52 slope inwardly toward each other and the slope is at an angle of about five degrees from the vertical.

In FIGURE 6 the letters L and I have been chosen by way of example as showing the manner in which a sign character mold 53 for the Letter L and a sign character mold 54 for the Letter I are mounted preparatory to the molding operation. Having in mind the sign character mold 53 of the Letter L, the lower horizontal stroke 55 of the letter L is formed in part of a wall 56 which has the same slope as the inner face of the forming strip 52. A wall 57 extending across the upper end of a leg 58 has the same slope as the inner face of the forming strip 49. The height of the plate element in each instance is substantially equal to the height of the corresponding forming strip, with beveled portions of the letter extending above, as shown to good advantage in FIGURE 7. The letter I has a similar height and similarly sloped upper and lower edges which will not be described in further detail.

The letters, or rather better said, the sign character molds, may he slid endwise into position one at a time in proper succession. It is possible, however, because of the inward tilt of the forming strips being only at a fivedegree angle, to loosen appropriate screws 55 and permit the positioning rails to spread apart far enough to drop the sign character molds in from the top while the unit sign is being spelled out.

After all of the sign character molds representing the letters are in place and properly spaced, they are tightened in position by employment of a wedge strip 60. The wedge strip has opposite sloping wedge faces 61 and 62 which meet and engage complementary wedge faces 63 and 64. The wedge face 63 is at the end of the base 51 of the lower positioning rail 47 and the wedge face 64 is at the outer end of the base 48 of the upper positioning rail 46' which is one of the rails of the next adjacent pair of positioning rails. Only the upper rail is shown for convenience but it will be understood that matching the upper positioning rail 46 is a similar lower positioning rail (not shown) and that there may be even a third pair of such rails on the same make-up plate 45. The width of the wedge strip is such that when screwed down by employment of screws 65, the adjacent positioning rails will be forced outwardly just far enough to tightly wedge the sign character molds between respectively opposite positioning rails. The friction created in this fashion is sufficient to hold the sign character molds representing the letters in proper position.

After the make-up plate has been locked in position as described, a sheet 68 of moldable material is laid over the entire make-up plate. This sheet of material is preferably one of the lighter colored commercially available synthetic plastic resin materials and preferably of a thermoplastic nature. The sheet is warmed sufliciently so that it will yield when pressed into engagement with the sign character molds and the forming strips 49, 52, etc.

The particular molding operation will not be described in detail inasmuch as vacuum molding of this kind is wellknown to the art. Good practice suggests that the sheet 68 be drawn by the creation of a negative pressure or vacuum in a space 69 between the make-up plate 45 and the sheet 68. This will pull the sheet 68 from the position suggested roughly in FIGURE 7 to the position 68' shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. At the location of the sign character molds the sheet will overlie the upper beveled portions of the molds. in the spaces between the molds the sheet 68 will be drawn to the position 68, shown in FIGURE 9, lying flat against the make-up plate. Where the positioning rails extend between letters, the sheet 68 will be drawn around the rails to the position indicated by the reference 63 in FIGURE 9. The result will be the formation of a unit sign but one wherein 5 portions of the sheet 68 will fill all of the spaces between the letters rather than showing clear spaces therebetween.

Thereafter the upper portion of the unit sign will be cut away by sawing along a cut-off line 70, the location of which is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. This cutting off process removes entirely those portions of the sheet 68 lying between adjacent letters and also cuts oif bottom portions of the part of the sheet which is molded over the forming strips 49 and 52. In this way the pockets previously described are opened up at the same time that material is removed from the spaces between the letters. The cut-off makes all of the letters and the frame strips 18 and 19 between them conform to a level indicated by the line 71 in FIGURE 11. This is the manner in which the unit sign shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4 and 5 is produced.

Typical mountings for a unit sign of the type herein described are suggested in FIGURES 13 and 14. In FIGURE 13 a box 75 is mounted upon a vertical support 76. The box is formed by an upper frame strip 77 and a lower frame strip 78, each of which in turn may be fastened to a fixture base 79 of a conventional fluorescent fixture. In this instance there is shown a conventional fluorescent tube 80 mounted upon appropriate supporting means 81 on a face plate 82 of the fixture base. The frame strips are provided with inwardly bent ends 83 and 84, respectively, to provide means for attaching upper and lower positioning rails 85 and 86. These rails have overturned ends 87 and 88 to provide means for containing a translucent sheet 89. The same structure is also shown in FIGURE 14. In the last instance, there is shown applied against the positioning rail 85 a furring strip 90. The furring strip is prevented from being fastened in an improper manner by the presence of a secondary flange 34' which maintains a proper distance between an end edge 91 of the furring strip 90 and the mounting flange 32. In other respects the positioning rails accept and retain the unit sign in the same manner as has already been described in detail. Use of the secondary flange is important in preserving suflicient space between the mounting flange and the furring strip so that the edge of the unit sign can be easily pressed into position and subsequently removed therefrom.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. A set of sign characters for mounting on a mounting flange, and a set of characters comprising a frame and a plurality of characters homogeneously molded therewith in spaced relationship, said frame comprising at least one frame strip having a length in excess of the width of a plurality of said characters, said frame at locations between adjacent characters comprising substantially parallel spaced plate elements spaced from each other and extending transverse to the plane of said characters, said plate elements along adjacent rims on one side being joined together forming a closed pocket and having adjacent rims on the other side spaced from each other forming an opening for said pocket, whereby said set of characters is mounted on said flange by engagement of said flange between said parallel plate elements.

2. A set of sign characters for mounting on a mounting flange, and a set of characters comprising a frame and a plurality of characters homogeneously molded therewith in spaced relationship, said frame comprising at least one frame strip having a length in excess of the width of a plurality of said characters, said frame at locations between adjacent characters comprising substantially parallel spaced plate elements of resilient material spaced from each other and extending transverse to the plane of said characters, said plate elements along adjacent rims on one side being joined together forming a closed pocket and having adjacent rims on the other side spaced from each other forming an opening for said pocket, whereby said set of characters is mounted on said supporting flange by engagement of said flange between said parallel plate elements, the outermost of said frame strips throughout the width of each respective character comprising also the outer perimeter of a corresponding portion of the character.

3. A set of sign characters comprising longitudinally continuous spaced parallel frame strips exceeding in length the width of a plurality of said characters, each strip at locations between adjacent characters comprising plate elements spaced from each other and extending transverse to the plane of said characters, said characters having a homogeneous molded relationship with said frame strips said plate elements along adjacent rims on one side being joined together forming a closed pocket and having adjacent rims on the other side spaced from each other forming an opening for said pocket, and a pair of spaced parallel mounting flanges at locations corresponding to the locations of said pockets whereby to provide a releasable fit of said flanges in said pockets when the set of sign characters is mounted on the flanges, said frame strips having a spread relationship when in engagement with respective mounting flanges whereby to provide a friction retention of the frame on the mounting flanges.

4. In a replaceable sign assembly opposite spaced parallel rails each including a longitudinally continuous mounting flange of strip material with flat faces of the flanges in face to face relationship, and a homogeneously molded assembly comprising a frame and a set of sign characters therein, said assembly comprising longitudinally continuous spaced parallel frame strips longer than the width of a plurality of said characters, each strip at locations between adjacent characters comprising plate elements of resilient material spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the thickness of one of said flanges and extending transverse to the plane of said characters, said plate elements along adjacent rims on one side being joined together forming a closed pocket and having adjacent rims on the other side spaced from each other forming an opening for said pocket, said openings on respectively opposite edges of the assembly being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing of said respective flanges, said pockets and the respective flanges being tilted slightly relative to each other whereby to create a releasable friction fit of said flanges in said pockets when the set of sign characters is mounted on the flanges.

5. In a replaceable sign assembly for mounting on a vertical background opposite spaced parallel rails each including a mounting flange of strip material with flat faces of the flanges in face to face relationship and extending substantially perpendicular to said background, and a homogeneously molded assembly comprising a frame and a set of sign characters therein, said assembly comprising spaced parallel longitudinally continuous frame strips each having a length greater than the width of a plurality of said characters carrying as integral parts thereof a plurality of sign characters, each frame strip at locations between adjacent characters comprising plate elements of resilient material spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the thickness of one of said mounting flanges and having a length greater than the width of a plurality of said characters, said plate elements extending in a direction transverse to the plane of said character and having adjacent rims on one side joined together forming a closed pocket and having adjacent rims on the other side spaced from each other forming an opening for said pocket, said pockets being .tilted slightly relative to 11. 9 respective mounting flange,

said openings on respectively opposite edges of the set of sign characters being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing of said respective mounting flanges, whereby to create a releasable friction fit of said mounting flanges in said pockets when the set of sign characters is mounted on the mounting flanges, said sign characters having a molded relationship with and forming part of respectively opposite frame strips and extending therebetween.

6. A changeable sign for a framed set of sign characters comprising a support, spaced parallel rails on respectively opposite sides of said support, each rail comprising a base and a mounting flange extending outwardly substantially normal to said support, a homogeneously molded assembly comprising a set of sign characters having frame strips at locations intermediate adjacent characters on opposite sides in molded relationship with said characters, each frame strip being longitudinally continuous for a length greater than the width of a plurality of said characters, each said frame strip having an inwardly open pocket extending substantially normal to said support and adapted to fit over the respective supporting flange with a releasable friction fit, and a secondary flange on at least one of said bases spaced outwardly from the respective supporting flange a distance greater than the thickness of the material forming the set of sign characters, whereby to provide a fixed margin to prevent finishing structure from being installed in contact with the supporting flange.

7. A changeable illuminated sign for a framed set of sign characters comprising a box having opposite side walls and adapted to contain a source of illumination, a translucent plate extending between said side walls and closing a front face of said box, spaced parallel rails on respectively opposite sides of said plate, each rail comprising a base substantially parallel to the plane of said plate and a mounting flange extending substantially normal to the plane of said plate, and an overturned end on each base overlying an adjacent edge of the plate, a homogeneously molded assembly comprising a frame and characters therein, said assembly comprising a set of sign characters having longitudinally continuousframe strips on opposite sides, each frame strip having a length greater than the aggregate width of a plurality of said characters and having at locations between adjacent characters an inwardly open pocket of elongated shape extending substantially normal to the plane of said plate and adapted to fit over the respective supporting flange with a releasable friction fit.

8. A changeable illuminated sign for a framed set of sign characters comprising a box having opposite side walls and adapted to contain a source of illumination, a translucent plate extending between said side walls and closing a front face of said box, spaced parallel rails on respectively opposite sides of said box, each rail comprising a base substantially parallel to the plane of said plate and a mounting flange extending substantially normal to the plane of said plate, a homogeneously molded assembly comprising a set of sign characters hav ing longitudinally continuous frame strips on opposite sides in molded relationship with said frame strips, each frame strip at locations between adjacent characters having an inwardly open pocket of elongated shape extending substantially normal to the plane of said plate and adapted to fit over the respective supporting flange with a releasable friction fit, each frame strip having a length greater than the aggregate width of a plurality of said characters, and a secondary flange on at least one of said bases spaced outwardly from the respective supporting flange a distance greater than the thickness of the material forming the set of sign characters, said secondary flange extending substantially normal to the plane of said plate and being spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the respective base, whereby to provide a fixed margin to prevent finishing structure from being installed in contact with the supporting flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hull 40-142 X Von der Linden 40--142 X Lowinger 40142 X Sheldon 40142 Cygan 40-142 Orkin 40140 Tilden 1819 Fowler et a1 18-19 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

Adler 40-140 10 SHELDON M. BENDER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SET OF SIGN CHARACTERS FOR MOUNTING ON A MOUNTING FLANGE, AND A SET OF CHARACTERS COMPRISING A FRAME AND A PLURALITY OF CHARACTERS HOMOGENEOUSLY MOLDED THEREWITH IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP, SAID FRAME COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE FRAME STRIP HAVING A LENGTH IN EXCESS OF THE WIDTH OF A PLURALITY OF SAID CHARACTERS, SAID FRAME AT LOCATIONS BETWEEN ADJACENT CHARACTERS COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED PLATE ELEMENTS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO THE PLANE OF SAID CHARACTERS, SAID PLATE ELEMENTS ALONG ADJACENT RIMS ON ONE SIDE BEING JOINED TOGETHER FORMING A CLOSED POCKET AND HAVING ADJACENT RIMS ON THE OTHER SIDE SPACED FROM EACH OTHER FORMING AN OPENING FOR SAID POCKET, WHEREBY SAID SET OF CHARACTERS IS MOUNTED ON SAID FLANGE BY ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FLANGE BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL PLATE ELEMENTS. 